COPD Foundation

What COPD Foundation does

The COPD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, that operates a unified COPD360 platform serving patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and researchers affected by COPD, bronchiectasis, and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. The platform integrates four core products: COPD360social, a peer-to-peer online community with more than 50,000 members across 151+ countries; COPD360Net, a digital health and therapeutics accelerator network of accredited care centers designed to speed clinical trials; the COPD Patient-Powered Research Network (PPRN), a patient-governed research registry connected to PCORnet and PCORI; and the Bronchiectasis and NTM 360 initiative, which extends coverage into adjacent chronic lung conditions.

The foundation's technology stack includes the COPD360social community platform with activity feeds, Q&A forums, and gamified engagement, a peer-reviewed Journal of the COPD Foundation, the Lung Health Champion podcast, e-learning courses, and a COPD Risk Screener assessment tool. Research data is stored and transmitted via REDCap Cloud on AWS under HIPAA-compliant encryption, while the website uses Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and Google AdWords for digital engagement.

The foundation is funded by individual donations, monthly giving, planned/legacy giving, corporate sponsorships (including Novartis, Sanofi/Regeneron, and others), merchandise sales through its Online Education Store, and federal research pass-through funding via PCORI. Resources, community access, and core educational materials are provided free of charge, with the organization holding Charity Navigator 4-star, National Health Council Standards of Excellence, and GuideStar Platinum transparency certifications.

Name

COPD Foundation

Legal name

COPD Foundation

Website

https://copdfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The COPD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the integrated COPD360 platform—community, research registry, clinical accelerator, and education—to serve patients, caregivers, providers, and researchers affected by COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Respiratory and Chronic Lung Disease Patient Advocacy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

COPD & Chronic Bronchitis Management (HLAKANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chronic Disease Management Pathways (e.g., diabetes, CHF, COPD) (HLACAGAG), Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Patient advocacy services
• Chronic disease education
• Clinical research networks
• Patient community platforms
• Lung health resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The COPD Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through individual donations, monthly giving programs, tribute giving, and workplace giving campaigns. The organization also accepts cryptocurrency, stock donations, and vehicle donations.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partners sponsor COPD Foundation programs, events, and educational materials. Sponsors are featured on a dedicated page and receive recognition for supporting the foundation's mission.
3. Merchandise and Online Store: The foundation operates a Merch for the Cause program and COPD Patient Education Online Store selling educational materials and branded merchandise.
4. Planned Giving and Legacy Donations: The organization offers legacy and planned giving options including donor advised funds, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, and estate gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides free patient education, peer-support community, advocacy, and research infrastructure for people affected by COPD, bronchiectasis, and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. Its core offering is the COPD360 digital ecosystem, including the COPD360social online community (50,000+ members across 151+ countries), the COPD360Net clinical research accelerator, the COPD PPRN patient-powered research network, and complementary educational resources such as the COPD Risk Screener, Pocket Consultant Guide, journal, podcast, and video library.

Product overview

The COPD Foundation offers a unified platform of products and services centered around its COPD360 technology ecosystem. The core offerings include COPD360social (an online patient community), COPD360Net (a digital health accelerator network), and the COPD PPRN (Patient-Powered Research Network). These are complemented by disease-specific initiatives like the Bronchiectasis and NTM 360 program, the Oxygen360 initiative for oxygen therapy support, and educational resources including the Lung Health Champion Podcast, video series, and the COPD Foundation Journal. The organization also provides tools like the COPD Risk Screener and The COPD Pocket Consultant Guide, all designed to support patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers throughout the COPD care journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COPD360social: Online peer-to-peer community platform connecting COPD patients, caregivers, and medical professionals with over 50,000 members from 151+ countries
• COPD360Net
• COPD360coach
• Oxygen360
• Lace Up for Lungs
• Journal of the COPD Foundation
• Bronchiectasis and NTM 360
• BronchandNTM360social

Products and services

• COPD360social Peer-to-peer online community platform where COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals interact, ask questions, share information, and access community events, activity feeds, and engagement points/badges.
• COPD360Net Development Accelerator Digital Health and Therapeutics Accelerator Network comprising accredited care centers and experts in COPD and related lung diseases, designed to accelerate clinical trials, increase telehealth availability, and prevent disease progression.
• COPD PPRN (Patient-Powered Research Network) Patient-run research registry that allows participants to contribute health data, complete surveys, and be contacted for COPD and related lung disease research studies, connected to PCORnet and governed by a board of patients and researchers.
• Bronchiectasis and NTM 360 Initiative and online community (BronchandNTM360social) for individuals with bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, providing education, community feedback, and research opportunities.
• COPD Risk Screener Online screening tool that helps individuals assess their risk for COPD by answering a series of questions.
• The COPD Pocket Consultant Guide
• Lung Health Champion Podcast
• COPD Foundation Journal
• COPD Patient Education Online Store

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 community members from 151 countries engaged through COPD360social
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Three Lakes FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe COPD Foundation partnered with Three Lakes Foundation on the PF Perspectives Project to improve the lives of individuals living with chronic lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, which sometimes co-occurs with COPD.
• NovartisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNovartis collaborated with the COPD Foundation on creating 'A Child's Eye', an animated short film showing life with COPD from a loved one's perspective, developed with storytelling agency Make Believe UK.
• Village MedicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage Medical, a national primary care provider, partnered with the COPD Foundation to provide guidance and support on COPD flare-ups, contributing educational content about warning signs, prevention, and management.
• Sanofi and RegeneronminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSanofi and Regeneron provide sponsorship support for COPD Foundation educational content about biologics and severe COPD, helping fund resources for patients exploring new treatment options.
• Make Believe UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStorytelling agency partnered with COPD Foundation and Novartis to create 'A Child's Eye' animated short about COPD from a caregiver's perspective.
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe COPD Foundation website links to Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency resources at alpha1.org, recognizing the genetic connection between Alpha-1 and COPD.
• PCORnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe COPD PPRN is part of PCORnet, a national research network connecting patient-powered research networks and clinical data research networks created by PCORI.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD): International collaboration that produces the globally recognized GOLD COPD treatment guidelines and strategy reports. Comparable as the leading COPD-specific authority globally; the COPD Foundation's PRAXIS and Pocket Consultant Guide tools complement GOLD's clinical guidance work.
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Patient advocacy nonprofit for asthma and allergic diseases, another major respiratory condition. Comparable as a chronic respiratory advocacy organization with national footprint, patient education, and policy advocacy—though focused on obstructive airway disease driven by asthma rather than COPD.
• American Lung Association: Largest U.S. voluntary lung health organization with a much broader mandate covering all lung diseases, asthma, and tobacco control. Directly comparable as a respiratory advocacy and research nonprofit serving overlapping patient and donor constituencies.
• American Thoracic Society: Professional society for pulmonary and critical care clinicians, publishing major respiratory journals and setting clinical practice guidelines. Comparable as a peer in COPD research dissemination and provider education, though membership is clinician-focused rather than patient-focused.

Direct peers

• Alpha-1 Foundation: Nonprofit dedicated to Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic cause of COPD. Directly comparable as a single-disease lung advocacy nonprofit with patient community and research funding focus; the COPD Foundation actively cross-links to Alpha-1 resources, signaling tight community overlap.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Leading U.S. nonprofit focused on a single chronic lung disease, with a highly developed patient registry, research funding model, and care center network. Directly comparable in mission structure (single-disease focus, research + advocacy + community) and approach to clinical trial acceleration.
• Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: Nonprofit focused on pulmonary fibrosis, a related interstitial lung disease. Directly comparable as a chronic lung disease advocacy nonprofit with patient community, research registry, and PFF Care Center Network. COPD Foundation partners with Three Lakes Foundation on the PF Perspectives Project.

Regional players

• European Lung Foundation: European counterpart organization linking patients and the public to respiratory professionals across Europe. Comparable in patient-education and lung-health advocacy mission, but primarily serves European geographies rather than competing directly in the U.S. COPD Foundation base.
• Asthma + Lung UK (formerly British Lung Foundation): U.K.-based charity dedicated to lung health including COPD. Comparable as a respiratory patient advocacy and research charity with similar patient education and support missions, but operates primarily in the U.K. rather than the U.S. market.

Others

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): U.S. NIH institute that funds the majority of federally funded COPD research. Comparable as the dominant COPD research funder that the COPD Foundation's advocacy and PPRN ecosystem supports and complements through clinical trial acceleration and patient recruitment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/copdfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsL8hAkJ6Ma8KQzABJX_Y0g
• Facebookfacebook.com/COPDFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/copd-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/copd.foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COPD Foundation